ART GP’s Victor Martins extended his impressive P2 streak in qualifying for another week at the Saudi Arabian GP. For the second week in a row, Martins will start on the front row of the grid for the Feature Race — but this time, he’ll be looking to convert it into his first podium of the season.
It was another successful Friday for the Frenchman. At the post-qualifying press conference attended by Pit Debrief, Martins appeared pleased with his performance. Having missed pole by the smallest of margins, the 23 year-old knew there was a lot of potential in the car.
“Yeah I think I lost it there because honestly I was quite happy about the lap itself, the rest of the quali was quite messy you know with the red flag I think on the first run I was P1 then on the second lap [Arvid] Lindblad got me for like just a bit so the car was quick…”
Reflecting on the red-flag interruption caused by VAR’s John Bennett, the Frenchman acknowledged the session had been a messy one for many and remained optimistic about his P2 start on Sunday.
“I was also everything was perfectly done and then you have the red flag I was like maybe also it’s not the day for us and I was like stay cool you know it’s not in your control, you can only focus on the driving, getting the tyres in the window and doing a good lap and I think I managed to do it perfectly in the end, wasn’t quite enough for sure but it’s still P2 for the weekend.”
Setup tweaks to improve car balance mid-session
Much like pole-sitter DAMS’ Jak Crawford, Martins was not satisfied with the balance of his car after completing his first run. The Frenchman explained they were in no rush to join the field following the end of the red-flag, as their focus remained on tyre warm-up.
“Yeah I did because I was not like super happy about the balance and then we did a few changes also to be better for the last run and again I think we had pretty much the same approach to let people go also for the warm-up to focus on the tyres…”
After Crawford’s flawless lap that secured him the front-row start, Martins acknowledged his lap was simply not enough this weekend. Still, the Frenchman drew motivation from his consistent qualifying performance, confident that he has the pace to fight.
“And anyway we were going to have only one lap on the board at the end so I think we did what we had to do in the end, was not quite enough but you know when you did P1 in Melbourne, P2 in Bahrain and P2 again is good for qualifying performance so you are there, it’s good and you have a good position for tomorrow and also for the feature race.”
Impressive one-lap consistency thus far
Martins has delivered top-tier consistent qualifying performances throughout 2025 so far. Knowing he has the car and pace to fight for poles, Martins said that the extra confidence drives his mindset going into Fridays.
“I just know I can do it, every Friday I know how to approach Fridays and just also with the team from FP to Quali what we need to do on the car and now the car is super quick, I always know that I can fight for pole and this extra confidence is good.”
“I don’t doubt about the team and to myself neither so I think Fridays are good, I just need to now do things right for Saturday and not taking too many risks, being more cool and chill sometimes to not want too much about expectation and result and I think everything will be good.”
However, Martins’ biggest challenge this year has been turning his qualifying success into race-day results, where it truly matters. After missing out on a podium last weekend despite starting P2, Martins heads into this round with a calm mindset, focused on taking things one step at a time.
“Yeah for sure but I’m just planning to be a bit more chilled for tomorrow’s race, then future is another thing but definitely I need to score points, I need to convert that performance and the car performance into good points also for the team and I. So definitely the approach will be a bit different than Bahrain and Melbourne.”
Adaptation key to success in F2
When asked about the importance of simulator preparation prior to a race weekend, the top three mutually agreed. Recalling on his first time in Jeddah in 2023, Martins’ credited simulator work in providing him with the necessities for getting him up to speed. Now with two seasons under his belt, the Frenchman explained his intensive simulator schedule, at both ART and Williams, to ensure he heads into a race weekend prepared.
“I think for sure it’s so important, I remember my first time here in 2023 and actually I remember saying to my team the track we got on the simulator was perfect, so I was like for sure it was a perfect tool for me to get to the rhythm, now that I have experience in F2 for sure, I still go in simulator a lot, especially with ART to learn about the new car and also to be ready in every aspect before jumping on the car during the weekend and definitely with Williams also I’m doing quite a few days.”
Whilst simulator work provides drivers with a decent replication of the real track, there will always be differences to actual racing conditions. Martins highlighted how adaptability is key to settling into a series, like F2.
“So definitely adaptation, you know you test things on the simulator that probably you cannot do in the car in real life, so definitely it’s a big help. I think I just don’t do at home because I do enough with ART and Williams, so definitely I need some rest, I need to sometimes switch off and think about my personal life, but definitely I spend 80% of the time in the simulator or in my car, so definitely a big help.”
Success will come. Time will tell.
Heading into Jeddah, Martins and ART know the Frenchman is capable of delivering great results. However, it is a matter of putting it all together. So far, it has been clear that the Frenchman’s results have not met his expectations. Acknowledging that he can’t always have a good weekend, Martins thinks this weekend will be a turning point in his 2025 campaign.
“I think it’s just about time, you just need sometimes to accept, and things sometimes are not clicking together, but let’s say, I believe it’s about time, I just don’t need to do anything more or less, maybe I can improve a bit, for sure. I have always things to improve. I’m not perfect.”
“And I know ART is there to push myself and help me on this subject, but definitely, I don’t know, we are always there, it will come, today we had Jak to not be there, you know, we had to remove one driver to get pole today.”
Consistently at the front in qualifying, Martins knows he can use this to his advantage. However
“But I don’t know, it’s just, the car was not perfect, there are things to improve, for sure, for the weekend, for tomorrow’s race, but definitely we learn a lot, we know where is the sweet spot of the car, and it’s tough sometimes…”
“I think we have the best consistency with the performance in qualifying, regarding myself and the team, and I think that we need to use that as an advantage and as a confidence, you know, for the next events, but it will come, it’s just time, I think.”
Converting qualifying success into results
When asked the opportunity to fully kickstart his 2025 campaign this weekend, Martins know this weekend will be crucial. Starting near the current championship leader Leonardo Fornaroli, the Frenchman emphasised that his approach this weekend isn’t influenced by that, but rather by the fact that it’s still early in the season.
“Yeah, I would say same, just I think it’s not because Leo is behind that I will change my approach, I think it’s still really early into the season to know who is really the strongest and who is really, let’s say, leading according to the performance they are putting on the track.”
With two rounds completed and third now underway, Martins believes its still too early to name a clear title contender. Staying focused on himself and the job he needs to do, he draws on his F2 experience to bring together the pieces for a strong weekend.
“But let’s say I think it’s just a matter of focussing on ourselves, just not, as I said on my side, not trying to make too much, you know, too many risks and being a bit more chill in the car, and just bringing back the car home and bringing good points, and I think if I just do my job that I need to do, there will be big points on the board and that will be the goal for tomorrow and Sunday.”
An inspiration to Minì
When asked by Pit Debrief about being an inspiration to former Alpine Academy driver Gabriele Minì, the Frenchman was pleasantly surprised and clearly appreciative of the compliment, as the Frenchman joked he will be giving Minì a hug to thank him after.
“I will come to see him after and hug him. I think it’s always good to, I don’t know, I have never been actually an inspiration for another driver, so it’s thanks to him.”
“But I will say I just try to focus on myself in the end. It’s good if one driver is looking at what you are doing and your performance and your laps or whatever, but let’s say I think I have been honestly good in qualifying always in my two seasons in F2, especially 2023.”
As a veteran in the series, Martins understands that delivering a complete weekend means performing on both Saturday and Sunday, where the big points for his championship will come from.
“But now I need to be an inspiration on Saturday and Sundays. I think that’s the goal and definitely if I ask him tonight he will say no, so I think I just need to improve my consistency throughout the weekend and I don’t know what to say, I will see him after.”
Starting in P9 for the Sprint Race later today, Martins will be hoping to take home his first piece of silverware of the year this weekend at the Saudi Arabian GP.
